Boxing: Anderson in line for crack at British title

THE Capital's Celtic super- middleweight boxing champion Kenny Anderson has hailed the decision by his 12-stone rivals Tony Quigley and Steve Smith to drop down to middleweight - thus making a clear path for Anderson to challenge for the British crown later this year.

The move by both Liverpool fighters will give Anderson the chance to meet the winner of the forthcoming British title fight between George Groves and Olympic gold medal winner James DeGale.

Anderson, who won universal praise when losing to Commonwealth champion Groves during their November 2010 clash in Manchester, said: "I'm delighted that Quigley, whom I was originally meant to fight in a British title eliminator last year, and Smith have decided to go down to middleweight so I can fight either George Groves or James DeGale.

"However, to be honest, I think that DeGale and I will never meet as his promoter seems to have plans to fast-track DeGale towards a world title so I won't be surprised if I get a return with Groves, who only beat me because I had so little time to prepare. It will be very different next time.

"Robert Smith, Secretary of the British Board of Control, told me recently that I had done well enough in my performance against Groves to be still very much in the mix for a British super-middleweight title fight later this year. But, before then, my next fight - an eight-rounder - has been switched from Stoke to Wigan on March 26 where I'll box a foreign opponent."